Stronger Together
World War I: Russia’s Role and Participation
110 years ago the First World War began. Only after four long years, in November 1918, it ended with the long-awaited ‘Armistice’.
The largest war in human history for its time, it was literally a global catastrophe – both for its contemporaries and for generations to come.
Belgium was one of the hardest hit – and one of the most heroic – of the Great War. Novels and studies, poems and music have been written about her role. It became for many, including Russia at that time, a model of fortitude and courage, a symbol of freedom.
A commemorative ceremony at the war memorial in Brussels. 11 november 2024
A commemorative ceremony at the war memorial in Brussels. 11 november 2024
But much less is known about Russia and its participation in that war. Not only because the Western Front was, of course, more important for Europeans than the Eastern Front. But also because in Russia itself, which the war plunged into the biggest social catastrophe in its history, the gravity of subsequent events tried to deprive the meaning or even destroy the memory of this heroic page of our past.
And today we want to remember what our country was like during the Great War, to pay tribute to the memory of thousands of soldiers and officers of the Russian army who fought on the expanses of Europe and are buried on the war memorials of Brussels, Liege or Antwerp, to tell about the ties and co-operation between Russia and Belgium, which were unusually intense just then – before and during the war.
The Russian House in Brussels invites you to join a series of events dedicated to the memory of World War II. We are organizing exhibitions, lectures, film screenings, and other activities to honor the heroes and preserve the historical memory of those tragic and heroic years. Follow our announcements on our website and social media to stay updated on upcoming events, and read our news to learn more about what has already taken place. Together, we keep the memory of the past alive for future generations.
‘All Quiet on the Western Front’. And on the Eastern One?
Lecture by prof. Bladimir Ronin
Event Archive: Past Events on World War I
Director of the Russian House in Brussels Took Part in the Victory Day Commemoration Ceremony
On May 9, 2025, the Director of the Russian House in Brussels took part in a solemn ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. On this day, the Ambassador of Russia to Belgium, A.A. Tokovinin, together with the Acting Permanent Representative of Russia to the European Union, K.K. Malayan, and heads of diplomatic missions from CIS countries, laid flowers at the memorials to Soviet citizens who died in the liberation of Belgium, as well as to members of the Belgian Resistance. [...]
Émile Verhaeren and Russian Literature: Vladimir Ronin’s Lecture at the Russian House in Brussels
On December 15, 2024, the Russian House in Brussels hosted a lecture by Professor Vladimir Ronin titled "Émile Verhaeren and the Russians: Que reste-t-il de nos amours?" The event attracted a diverse audience, including literature enthusiasts, students, and members of the Russian-speaking community in Belgium. Professor Ronin, a renowned expert in Franco-Russian literary relations, explored the profound impact of Belgian poet Émile Verhaeren on Russian literature. He discussed how Verhaeren's symbolist works resonated with Russian poets such as Alexander Blok and Valery Bryusov, influencing their creative [...]
Premiere Screening of the Film “A Russian Youth” at the Russian House Cinema Club in Brussels
On November 27, the Russian House Cinema Club in Brussels hosted the premiere screening of Alexander Zolotukhin’s debut film "A Russian Youth" — a poignant motion picture that immersed viewers in the tragic events of World War I. The film tells the story of a simple Russian boy who, driven by youthful dreams of glory, heads to the frontlines. His path changes dramatically when he loses his sight in his very first battle. The protagonist remains in service in a new role — a listener, tasked [...]
Solemn Memorial Service in Brussels in Honor of Russian Participants of World War I
On November 23, a solemn memorial service was held at the Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Brussels to honor Russian participants of World War I. The event was attended by the Russian Ambassador to Belgium, Alexander Avrelevich Tokovinin, descendants of the "first wave" émigrés, compatriots, and staff of the Russian House in Brussels. The ceremony was part of a series of events dedicated to commemorating Russian soldiers who fell on the fronts of the Great War. The service was conducted in an atmosphere of deep respect and [...]
History Club: A Lecture by Professor Vladimir Ronin on World War I Held in Brussels
On November 15, the Russian House in Brussels hosted a lecture by Professor Vladimir Ronin titled “All Quiet on the Western Front, but What About the Eastern Front?”. The event, organized as part of the Historical Club, attracted an audience interested in World War I and its cultural and societal legacy. Vladimir Ronin spoke about what Russia was like during the Great War. He emphasized the importance of honoring the memory of thousands of Russian army soldiers and officers who fought across Europe and are buried [...]
A commemorative ceremony was held at the war memorial in Brussels
On 11 November at 11:11 at the Ixelles Memorial in Brussels, a flower-laying ceremony was held at the graves of Russian and Belgian soldiers and officers who took part in the First World War. The event was organised with the support of the Russian House in Brussels and the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Belgium. Among the participants of the event were the Russian Ambassador to Belgium A.A. Tokovinin, Rector of the Gnesin Russian Academy of Music A.S. Ryzhinsky, Director of the Russian House V.G. [...]
